Master of Arts major in English
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://dspace.uc-bcf.edu.ph/handle/123456789/78
Browse
1 results
Search Results
Item Images of the Cordillera in selected Filipino children's literature(1991) Orendain, Margarita R.There is an entire body of Filipino children's Literature between the concern of publishers, writers and illustrators since the 1960s. There is also a considerable body of Filipino children's Literature on the Cordillera that began to be written even before this time. However, other than the form of analysis represented in the selection of worthwhile books made by early and recent award-giving bodies in the country, little discussion along scholarly lines has been done. It is in this context that this study proposed to delineate the images of the Cordillera in selected Filipino children's literature. Specifically, this study proposed to investigate the genres into which such literature may be classified, the themes of and the images reflected in them, and the results of a comparison between the images reflected and the objective description of the Cordillera, its people and its culture as recorded in the social science materials. To arrive at the answer to these problems, 46 prose works for children on the 7 ethno linguistic groups of the Cordillera were analyzed. After classifying the stories and articles into the genres of children's literature in general, a discussion followed regarding their content, the aspects or features on Cordillera life such literature treated and from which the themes were identified, the images of the Cordillera drawn from such themes and how these compare with anthropological and sociological data on the land, its people and its culture, and finally, a consideration of these selected texts as true literature. The study basically used the descriptive method, supplemented by library research and, where needed, the interview technique. Library research involved tracing the children's books back to their publication houses in Metro Manila and locating relevant and valuable sources in the libraries and special collections of institutions and individuals in Baguio City and Metro Manila. Interviews too were conducted in these places. Two literary approaches were further made use of. The formalistic approach was utilized in determining the different genres into which selected prose works may be grouped and in classifying these same works under those genres. The sociological approach was utilized in delineating the relationship among particular works on the Cordillera, the objective description of the people and culture, and the possible perceptions of the reading audience for whom the literature has been written. This need to compare material from different disciplines led then to the additional use of the interdisciplinary approach. The 46 children's stories and articles selected for analysis in this study fall under 5 genres: realistic or modern fiction, informational books, modern fantasy, picture story books and traditional or folk literature. Themes of family life, social living, friendship, beliefs and rituals, and change are the focus of these works that reflect the images of a land precious to the people to whom it has provided a home, bountiful resources and varied economic activities; of a people for whom family and children are important and for whom family and village life is characterized by cooperative behavior; and of a culture steeped in a system of beliefs in the supernatural which exerts control and influence over every aspect of human living but which may be appeased and appealed to in the form of rituals. A comparison of these works and an objective description of the Cordillera reveal that children's literature GA the Cordillera generally present no glaring misrepresent2tion of the land, its people and its culture. However, what may give rise to misimpressions or an inaccurate picture includes the portrayal of a land not distinctly characteristic of the Cordillera in its terrain, houses and name; of a people not known for their more accurate names, village life and fiercely independent and proud nature; and of a culture whose deities axe indiscriminately named and whose practices become a source of un-founded descriptions. These findings and conclusions lead to recommendations that w:4imarily focus on the studied care with which the text and illustrations of Filipino children's literature should be prepared; on the serious responsibility that falls on these writers and illustrators; on the promotion of and encouragement of Interest in such literature; and or the great need for farther investigation of certain aspects in such literature and in all children's literature on the Cordillera.